Residents of Whitfield were relieved on Wednesday night when an out-of-control fire headed towards the town was slowed down by the CFA before it hit the town.
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The blaze started on Boggy Creek Road in Myrrhee on Wednesday afternoon, fanned by strong winds of about 40km/h.
More than 250 firefighters battled the fire, along with aircraft, bulldozers and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning vehicles.
Police also door-knocked homes in Whitfield to warn residents of the danger, as they feared winds could push the fire towards the town.
It caused damage to land as it travelled east towards properties on Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, between Edi Cutting and Gentle Annie Lane.
A relief centre was opened at the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall. But just after 8pm, the CFA downgraded the serious warnings to a “watch and act”.
The fire was still not controlled on Wednesday night, but the high winds had subsided and a containment line was in place.
King Valley wineries that have not yet harvested their grapes will counting the cost of damage suffered from smoke taint from the fire.
Smoke from the fire could be seen across the ridge in the region, from as far away as Mount Buffalo.
Meanwhile water-bombing aircraft were sent out to a fire burning near Barooga Road, about four kilometres north of Mulwala earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
NSW Rural Fire Service said the fire had been burning in a south-easterly direction under strong, north to westerly winds ranging from 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.
RFS Southern Border Superintendent Patrick Westwood said about 20 tankers had worked to protect homesteads near the canal and he did not believe any property had been lost.
“The crews have managed to pull it up,” he said.
The RFS stated firefighters had obtained the upper hand on the fire at about 5pm.